Harare(New Ziana) – Zimbabwe has recorded an eighth case of Covid-19 after one of the contacts of an earlier patient tested positive to the virus on Monday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care Ministry has said.

In a statement, the Ministry said the latest victim had come into contact with the third patient declared, and is one of 47 samples that had been tested. The rest had tested negative for Covid-19.

Of the eight Covid-19 patients so far in the country, one has since died.
“The Ministry would like to report that today (Monday), the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 47 samples. One of these, a contact of the third case, tested positive for Covid-19.

“To date, Zimbabwe has 8 confirmed cases, including one death,” said the Ministry.

Of the confirmed Covid-19 cases, patient two – who contracted the disease in the US – infected one person, while victim number three infected three others, including the latest case reported by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Patient three is suspected to have contracted the disease outside the country as he tested positive on arrival in the country on a flight from Dubai.

The Ministry urged people to strictly observe health recommendations to combat Covid-19, including social distancing, and the nationwide lockdown.

“Therefore the Ministry would like to remind everyone of the need to maintain social distancing, by avoiding close contact with anyone who is unwell, coughing or sneezing,” it said.

The government has since declared the pandemic a national disaster and put the nation in total lockdown for 21 days to allow it to better tackle Covid-19.

It has also closed borders and set up surveillance and treatment centres in many cities.

New Ziana